With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Some tree loppers tout for business by putting flyers in letterboxes, advertising in the local newspaper or on noticeboards, promoting their services via social media, such as community Facebook pages, or advertising via online classifieds such as Gumtree.
In 2015 Consumer Protection received 160 enquiries and 34 complaints about tree loppers tending to relate to:
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Next time you’re asked ‘would you like a receipt?’ say yes and be sure to check it.
Contactless technology that allows us to pay with a wave of a card seems to be resulting in a lower take-up of receipts and this becomes a problem when there’s a query about how much was charged and what for.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Court case highlights landlord obligations
A recent court case has highlighted the need for private landlords in WA, as well as real estate agents and property managers, to be aware of their obligations under tenancy laws and to comply with them.
In the case, Bozena Sakowski was fined $7,200 by the Perth Magistrates Court after she pleaded guilty to 24 breaches of tenancy laws when acting as a landlord.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Crowd funding is an increasingly popular way for people to raise money for a variety of causes using the internet. If an online crowd funding campaign is regarding a work-related or leisure-based project we see this as peer-to-peer lending. However, when the fundraising is for a charitable purpose Consumer Protection is interested because we enforce the Charities Collections Act 1946.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
You may have seen or heard about a Samsung washing fire at a rental property in Wanneroo recently. Early indications are that it was a top loader which is subject to a national product safety recall and I would like to use the case as a reminder about recalled products that pose a threat to public safety.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
The product, membership or subscription may say “free trial” but in many cases it turns into an automatic charge or renewal and consumers need to be aware of this marketing trap.
We receive many complaints and enquiries from consumers who report receiving unexpected charges resulting from the automatic charging or renewals of products or services they have purchased, usually online.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Changes to the way several new TV channels broadcast is causing reception issues for some television users, and sellers of TVs or set top boxes should attune to this.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard
Cots are supposed to be a place for babies to rest and sleep safely but Kidsafe WA reports that 51 children attended Princess Margaret Hospital in 2014/2015 with cot-related injuries.
If you buy or receive a second-hand cot, it may not meet current Australian safety standards, increasing the risk of injury to any baby placed in that cot. For example there is a minimum and maximum gap allowed between cot bars to ensure infants do not trap their head or limbs.
With Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection, David Hillyard
Tenancy laws in WA are under review in a bid to support victims of family violence who live in rental homes. It’s your chance to have a say because community feedback is now invited.
An options paper has been released outlining proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that are designed to complement the Restraining Orders and Related Legislation Amendment (Family Violence) Bill 2016, which was introduced into Parliament in September this year.
With Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner David Hillyard
Avoid pre-holiday blues – buying travel tips
The recent collapse of a Perth travel agent highlighted that some Western Australians were unaware there is no longer a licensing system for travel agents and that the associated compensation scheme does not exist anymore.
